'''Staten Island''' is the most suburban of the five boroughs of [[New York City]]. Although still predominantly residential in nature, the borough has changed significantly since the opening of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in 1964. It is the closest borough to New Jersey's Newark International Airport. You may want to consider staying in a hotel on Staten Island due to its proximity to Newark Airport, and the lower taxi fares and shorter travel times as opposed to Manhattan (the taxi fare is $45 to any point in Staten Island plus up to $10 in tolls, but it is less delay-prone).

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'''Staten Island''' is the most suburban of the five boroughs of [[New York City]]. Although still predominantly residential in nature, the borough has changed significantly since the opening of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in 1964. It is the closest borough to New Jersey's Newark International Airport. You may want to consider staying in a hotel on Staten Island due to its proximity to Newark Airport, lower taxi fares and shorter travel times as opposed to Manhattan (the taxi fare is $45 to any point in Staten Island plus up to $10 in tolls, but it is less delay-prone).

==Districts==

==Districts==

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Although Staten Island is statistically the least diverse borough, the North Shore of Staten Island has some diverse sections. In addition to the ones mentioned below, like '''St George''' and '''Tompkinsville''', '''Port Richmond''' is a diverse neighborhood, with a large number of Spanish restaurants, and a decent number in nearby '''Mariners' Harbor'''.

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Although Staten Island is statistically the least diverse borough, the North Shore of Staten Island has some diverse sections. In addition to the ones mentioned below, '''Port Richmond''' is a diverse neighborhood, with many Spanish restaurants, and a quite a few in nearby '''Mariners' Harbor'''.

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Other neighborhoods of note are:

Other neighborhoods of note are:

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* '''West New Brighton''' the neighborhood where the Staten Island Zoo is located.

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* '''West New Brighton''' the neighborhood in which the Staten Island Zoo is located.

* '''Livingston''' - to the east of West New Brighton and to the west of '''New Brighton''', it is the location of the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, which includes the Staten Island Children's Museum.

* '''Livingston''' - to the east of West New Brighton and to the west of '''New Brighton''', it is the location of the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, which includes the Staten Island Children's Museum.

* '''Tottenville''' at the southern tip of the island is the location of the Conference House.

* '''Tottenville''' at the southern tip of the island is the location of the Conference House.

Line 14:

Line 15:

===By ferry===

===By ferry===

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Staten Island can be reached by passenger ferry from [[Manhattan]]. The ferry is the best option for arriving on the island, as it passes by Liberty Island and offers stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and New York Harbor. The ferry is free and operates 24 hours a day out of Battery Park in Manhattan and St. George Terminal in Staten Island. The ride to either terminal takes 30 minutes and runs about twice hourly (four times during rush hours and less frequently on weekend and late nights after 11pm).

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Staten Island can be reached by passenger ferry from [[Manhattan]]. The ferry passes by Liberty Island and offers stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and New York Harbor. The ferry is free and operates 24 hours a day out of Battery Park in Manhattan and St. George Terminal in Staten Island. The ride to either terminal takes 25 minutes and runs about twice hourly (four times during rush hours and every hour on weekends and late nights after 11pm). [http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/ferrybus/siferryschedule.shtml]

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Buses connect at the St George Ferry Terminal going to destinations all over Staten Island. The buses can be grouped according to their service area:

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Buses connect at the St. George Ferry Terminal going to destinations all over Staten Island. These can be grouped according to their service area:

Other routes on Staten Island that do not depart from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal are the S53, S54, S55, S56, S57, S59, S79, S89, and S93. These routes follow the same general rule regarding their service area.

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Routes on Staten Island that do not depart from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal are the S53, S54, S55, S56, S57, S59, S79, S89, and S93. These routes follow the same general rule regarding their service area.

===By car===

===By car===

Staten Island can be reached by bridge from [[Brooklyn]] and [[New Jersey]].

Staten Island can be reached by bridge from [[Brooklyn]] and [[New Jersey]].

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* '''Verrazano-Narrows Bridge''' connects Staten Island with Brooklyn, but you will incur a high toll of US$11.00 cash or $9.20 when you use E-Z Pass (westbound only, no toll eastbound).

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* '''Verrazano-Narrows Bridge''' connects Staten Island with Brooklyn. A high toll of US$13.00 cash or $9.60 when you use an New York-issued E-Z Pass (westbound only, no toll eastbound) is to be paid.

These last 3 bridges have a $8.00 toll payable only when entering Staten Island, not leaving it. The carpool toll is $2.00 with 3 or more people in a car, payable only with E-Z Pass.

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These last 3 bridges have a $12.00 cash toll or $9.50 EZ Pass toll payable only when entering Staten Island, not leaving it. The carpool toll is $3.50 with 3 or more people in a car, payable only with E-Z Pass registered with the Carpool Plan.

===By bus===

===By bus===

<b>Express bus</b>

<b>Express bus</b>

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A moderately priced option is to take an express bus from Manhattan to Staten Island. The express buses are especially handy when you are traveling to places on the South Shore, which is the furthest section of Staten Island from the ferry, and has fewer local routes running than the more densely populated North Shore. The $5.50 fare is payable with MetroCard (pay-per-ride only), Express Bus Plus MetroCards or coin change. Dollar bills are not accepted.

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A moderately priced option is to take an express bus from Manhattan to Staten Island. The express buses are especially handy when you are traveling to places on the South Shore, which is the furthest section of Staten Island from the ferry, and has fewer local routes running than the more densely populated North Shore. The $6 fare<ref>http://www.mta.info/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm</ref> is payable with MetroCard (pay-per-ride only), Express Bus Plus MetroCards or coin change. Dollar bills, pennies, and half-dollar coins are not accepted.

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* The '''X1''' and '''X10''' routes run along Broadway in Manhattan (starting at around Central Park South/Seventh Avenue and East 57th Street/Third Avenue, respectively), with the X1 running along Hylan Boulevard and Richmond Avenue to Eltingville and the X10 running along the service roads of the Staten Island Expressway (North and South Gannon Avenues) to Port Richmond. Both routes run daily, the X1 leaving Manhattan from 7:30AM to 1:35AM weekdays, 7:00AM to 12:30AM Saturdays, and 7:30AM to 11:00PM Sundays, and the X10 leaving Manhattan from 7:20AM to 1:15AM weekdays, 8:30AM to 11:45PM Saturdays, and 8:35AM to 10:30PM Sundays. The X1 leaves Eltingville Transit Center from 3:30AM to 10:00PM weekdays, 5:10AM to 10:30PM Saturdays, and from 5:30AM to 8:30PM Sundays, and the X10 leaves Castleton Avenue at Jewett Avenue from 5:25AM to 10:00PM weekdays, 5:30AM to 9:00PM Saturdays, and 6:30AM to 9:00 PM Sundays.

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* The '''X1''' and '''X10''' routes run along Broadway in Manhattan (starting at around Central Park South/Seventh Avenue and East 57th Street/Third Avenue, respectively), with the X1 running along Hylan Boulevard and Richmond Avenue to Eltingville and the X10 running along the service roads of the Staten Island Expressway (North and South Gannon Avenues) to Port Richmond. Both routes run daily, the X1 runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the X10 leaves Castleton Avenue at Jewett Avenue from 5:25AM to 10:00PM weekdays, 5:30AM to 9:00PM Saturdays, and 6:30AM to 9:00 PM Sundays. [http://mta.info/nyct/service/bus/sisch.htm#xpress]

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* '''X17''' service also runs from parts of the South Shore weekdays from 4:05AM to 3:45PM, and Saturdays from 5:30AM to 7:00PM. It leaves Manhattan from 10:25AM to 11:30PM weekdays, and from 7:15AM to 8:30PM Saturdays.

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* '''X17''' service also runs from parts of the South Shore weekdays from 4:05AM to 3:45PM, and weekends from 5:00AM to 7:00PM. It leaves Manhattan from 10:25AM to 11:30PM weekdays, and from 7:00AM to 8:30PM weekends.

* Other express routes service to other parts of the island also run during the rush hours in the peak flow direction (to Manhattan in the morning, to Staten Island in the afternoon).

* Other express routes service to other parts of the island also run during the rush hours in the peak flow direction (to Manhattan in the morning, to Staten Island in the afternoon).

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The wait times for an express bus are about 4-10 minutes during rush hours, 15-25 minutes other times. The Staten Island bus map [http://mta.info/nyct/maps/bussi.pdf]; (service descriptions [http://mta.info/nyct/maps/bussi2.pdf]) covers the routes on the island.

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The wait times for an express bus is about 4-10 minutes during peak hours and weekday evenings, 15-25 minutes other times, and every hour during the overnight hours. The Staten Island bus map <ref>http://mta.info/nyct/maps/bussi.pdf</ref><ref>http://mta.info/nyct/maps/bussi2.pdf</ref> is informative.

<b>Local bus</b>

<b>Local bus</b>

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* There is also the option of taking the S53/S93/S79 buses from the 4th Avenue & 86th Street subway station in Brooklyn. These bus routes cross the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge into Staten Island. Since these are considered local bus routes, you can pay for the ride by depositing $2.25 in coins in the farebox or swiping your MetroCard.

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* There is also the option of taking the S53/S93/S79 buses from the 4th Avenue & 86th Street subway station in Brooklyn. These bus routes cross the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge into Staten Island. Since these are considered local bus routes, you can pay for the ride by depositing $2.25 in coins in the farebox or swiping your MetroCard.

The S53 serves the North Shore and goes through '''Port Richmond''' and '''West New Brighton'''

The S53 serves the North Shore and goes through '''Port Richmond''' and '''West New Brighton'''

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The S79 serves the South/East Shores and goes on Hylan Boulevard and Richmond Avenue to get to the Staten Island Mall.

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The S79 Select Bus Service, a bus rapid transit route, serves the South/East Shores and goes on Hylan Boulevard and Richmond Avenue to get to the Staten Island Mall.

The S93 runs rush hours only and goes to the College of Staten Island, serving the neighborhoods near the Staten Island Expressway and Victory Boulevard.

The S93 runs rush hours only and goes to the College of Staten Island, serving the neighborhoods near the Staten Island Expressway and Victory Boulevard.

* From Bayonne, you can take the S89 Limited bus during rush hours from the 34th Street Hudson-Bergen Light Rail station. This bus runs down Richmond Avenue and serves sections of the North Shore, Mid-Island, and South Shore.

* From Bayonne, you can take the S89 Limited bus during rush hours from the 34th Street Hudson-Bergen Light Rail station. This bus runs down Richmond Avenue and serves sections of the North Shore, Mid-Island, and South Shore.

Line 61:

Line 62:

==Get around==

==Get around==

===By rail===

===By rail===

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The '''Staten Island Railway''' [http://mta.info/nyct/sir/] is a hybrid of a railroad and a subway line. Fares are the same as a subway ride (US$2.25), and it runs 24 hours, at intervals from 15 minutes during weekdays to hourly overnight, synchronized to the ferry schedule. Fares are collected only at St. George Ferry Terminal and Tompkinsville (You can walk from Stapleton to the ferry, though the distance is about a mile. It is not recommended to do this late at night because the ferry runs every hour and the area is somewhat unsafe). During rush hours, express service is provided and the locals terminate at Great Kills.

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The '''Staten Island Railway''' [http://mta.info/nyct/sir/] is a hybrid of a railroad and a subway line. Fares are the same as a subway ride (US$2.25), and it runs 24 hours, at intervals from 15 minutes during weekdays to hourly overnight, synchronized to the ferry schedule. Fares are collected only at St. George Ferry Terminal and Tompkinsville (You can walk from Stapleton to the ferry, though the distance is about a mile. It is not recommended to do this late at night because the ferry runs every hour and the area is somewhat unsafe). During rush hours, express service is provided and the locals terminate at Great Kills.

===By bus===

===By bus===

Bus routes [http://mta.info/nyct/bus/] cover the island pretty thoroughly. There are two types of buses:

Bus routes [http://mta.info/nyct/bus/] cover the island pretty thoroughly. There are two types of buses:

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*The '''local buses''' run routes all over Staten Island and are distinguished by the S before the route number (ex. S55, S78). They have uncomfortable plastic seats and cost $2.25. During rush hours, some buses run Limited and stop at major cross streets and transfer points. For example, the S62 starts at Jewett Avenue, making all stops east, while the S92 makes all stops west of Jewett Avenue that the S62 normally makes, while stopping only at major streets like Clove Road east of Jewett Avenue. The numbers of the local and limited routes usually correspond (S62/S92, S46/S96)

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*The '''local buses''' run routes all over Staten Island and are distinguished by the S before the route number (ex. S55, S78). They have uncomfortable plastic seats and cost $2.25. During rush hours, some buses run Limited and stop at major cross streets and transfer points. For example, the S62 starts at Jewett Avenue, making all stops east, while the S92 makes all stops west of Jewett Avenue that the S62 normally makes, while stopping only at major streets like Clove Road east of Jewett Avenue. The numbers of the local and limited routes usually correspond (S62/S92, S46/S96)

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* The '''express buses''' are distinguished by the X in the coded display on the front of the bus (ex. X1, X17). These buses run from Staten Island to Manhattan, have more comfortable cloth seats, and cost $5.50.

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* The '''express buses''' are distinguished with an 'X' in the coded display on the front of the bus (ex. X1, X10, X17, etc). These buses run from Staten Island to Manhattan, have more comfortable cloth seats, and cost $6.

Most routes on the island meet up at the '''St. George Ferry Terminal'''. Other major transfer points include '''Port Richmond''', with some buses terminating at Richmond Terrace at Port Richmond Avenue; the '''Staten Island Mall'''; and the '''Eltingville Transit Center''' on the South Shore, the last with MetroCard vending machines and express service to [[Manhattan]].

Most routes on the island meet up at the '''St. George Ferry Terminal'''. Other major transfer points include '''Port Richmond''', with some buses terminating at Richmond Terrace at Port Richmond Avenue; the '''Staten Island Mall'''; and the '''Eltingville Transit Center''' on the South Shore, the last with MetroCard vending machines and express service to [[Manhattan]].

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Fares can be paid in quarters or dollar coins (if you can find them). You can also use a MetroCard (good for all public transportation in NYC) purchasable at some delis or at the machines located at the ferry terminal. Buses run close to schedule, but service on Staten Island is sparse outside of rush hours, and even during peak hours, the most frequent headway is 10 minutes. If possible, pick up a schedule for routes that you'll plan to take or check the Guide-A-Ride box for exact times whenever possible.

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Fares can be paid in quarters or dollar coins (if you can find them). You can also use a MetroCard (good for all public transportation in NYC) purchasable at some delis or at the machines located at the ferry terminal. Buses run close to schedule, but service on Staten Island is sparse outside of rush hours, and even during peak hours, many routes run every 10-15 minutes. Because of this, it helps to be prepared: either pick up a schedule for routes that you'll plan to take, check the Guide-A-Ride boxes at bus stops for exact times or use the [http://bustime.mta.info/ MTA's BusTime system] to track buses. Although BusTime only works on routes dispatched from Staten Island at the moment, you can track express bus service in Manhattan.

A Staten Island bus map is available at: http://mta.info/nyct/maps/bussi.pdf

A Staten Island bus map is available at: http://mta.info/nyct/maps/bussi.pdf

*'''Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art''', a small museum with ancient art pieces and frequent visits by Tibetan monks and artists. Set into a hillside in the Lighthouse Hill neighborhood which is a gorgeous hilly suburban enclave worth a stroll around. Take the S78 from the ferry.

==Do==

==Do==

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* Visit the Staten Island Museum. It is a short walk from the ferry terminal. Admission is only $2.

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* Visit the Staten Island Museum. It is a short walk from the ferry terminal. Admission is $2.

* '''Staten Island Zoo''', 614 Broadway, [http://statenislandzoo.org/]. Located in West New Brighton, it's a fun destination for younger children as well as animal enthusiastsby taking the S53 bus from Brooklyn, or the S48/98 buses from the ferry (bus ramp C).

* '''Staten Island Zoo''', 614 Broadway, [http://statenislandzoo.org/]. Located in West New Brighton, it's a fun destination for younger children as well as animal enthusiastsby taking the S53 bus from Brooklyn, or the S48/98 buses from the ferry (bus ramp C).

* The '''Staten Island Greenbelt''' [http://sigreenbelt.org/] is one of the largest parks in the city, with miles of hiking trails and excellent views from the highest hills on the island. Take the S61/S91 from Ramp A of the St George Ferry Terminal or the S74/S84 from Ramp B of the St George Ferry Terminal. Transfer from the S74/S84 to the S54 or S57 at Rockland Avenue or walk.

* The '''Staten Island Greenbelt''' [http://sigreenbelt.org/] is one of the largest parks in the city, with miles of hiking trails and excellent views from the highest hills on the island. Take the S61/S91 from Ramp A of the St George Ferry Terminal or the S74/S84 from Ramp B of the St George Ferry Terminal. Transfer from the S74/S84 to the S54 or S57 at Rockland Avenue or walk.

Line 101:

Line 103:

*<buy name="Atrium Stadium Theaters" alt="" address="680 Arthur Kill Road, Staten Island , NY" directions="" phone="(718) 984-7600" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">The only movie theater on the south shore , so if ever in the Tottenville section of the island that would be the movie theater to go to. Take the S74/S84 to Richmond Avenue from bus ramp B of the ferry terminal.</buy>

*<buy name="Atrium Stadium Theaters" alt="" address="680 Arthur Kill Road, Staten Island , NY" directions="" phone="(718) 984-7600" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">The only movie theater on the south shore , so if ever in the Tottenville section of the island that would be the movie theater to go to. Take the S74/S84 to Richmond Avenue from bus ramp B of the ferry terminal.</buy>

*<buy name="UA Hyland Plaza 5" alt="" address="107 Mill Road, Staten Island, NY" directions="S78 from Bus Ramp A or S79 from Brooklyn" phone="(800) 326-3264 x635" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">One of two Movie theaters on the North Shore , It is surrounded by several restraunts and conveniently in a shopping plaza on Hylan Blvd. If you are ever in South Beach this would be the closest movie Theater. </buy>

*<buy name="UA Hyland Plaza 5" alt="" address="107 Mill Road, Staten Island, NY" directions="S78 from Bus Ramp A or S79 from Brooklyn" phone="(800) 326-3264 x635" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">One of two Movie theaters on the North Shore , It is surrounded by several restraunts and conveniently in a shopping plaza on Hylan Blvd. If you are ever in South Beach this would be the closest movie Theater. </buy>

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*<buy name="Ralphs Italian Ices" alt="" address="501 Port Richmond Avenue" directions="S44/S94 from bus ramp D" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" take="Take" the="the" from="from" bus="bus" ramp="ramp" d="D" of="of" or="or" x30="X30" express="express" manhattan="Manhattan">Summer time favorite for most Staten Islanders , Long lines and long hours along with the variety of tasty flavors is what makes this such an attractions and a place to buy and delicious ices.</buy>

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*<buy name="Ralphs Italian Ices" alt="" address="501 Port Richmond Avenue" directions="S44/S94 from bus ramp D" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" take="Take" the="the" from="from" bus="bus" ramp="ramp" d="D" of="of" or="or" x30="X30" express="express" manhattan="Manhattan">Summer time favorite for most Staten Islanders , Long lines and long hours along with the variety of tasty flavors is what makes this such an attraction and a place to buy delicious ices.</buy>

While the vast majority of Staten Island eateries are Italian, there are some gems of ethnic cuisine in the St. George and Tompkinsville neighborhoods, the area around the ferry terminal and the Staten Island Yankees stadium. Home to a large Sri Lankan community, St. George has many grocery stores and restaurants. Mostly within a mile of each other on Victory Blvd. (and in walking distance from the ferry terminal), the authentic and inexpensive restaurants serve up flavorful South Asian cuisine well worth the trip.

While the vast majority of Staten Island eateries are Italian, there are some gems of ethnic cuisine in the St. George and Tompkinsville neighborhoods, the area around the ferry terminal and the Staten Island Yankees stadium. Home to a large Sri Lankan community, St. George has many grocery stores and restaurants. Mostly within a mile of each other on Victory Blvd. (and in walking distance from the ferry terminal), the authentic and inexpensive restaurants serve up flavorful South Asian cuisine well worth the trip.

*<eat name="Beso" alt="" address="11 Schuyler Street" directions="Leave the ferry terminal, cross the street, make a right, left on Schuyler" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">New Spanish restaurant with live music occasionally. Tapas and sangria bring some much needed class to the neighborhood. A short walk from the ferry and a great place to eat.</eat>

*<eat name="Beso" alt="" address="11 Schuyler Street" directions="Leave the ferry terminal, cross the street, make a right, left on Schuyler" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">New Spanish restaurant with live music occasionally. Tapas and sangria bring some much needed class to the neighborhood. A short walk from the ferry and a great place to eat.</eat>

*<eat name="Joe And Pat's" alt="" address="1758 Victory Boulevard" directions="S61/S91 S62/S92 S66 from Bus Ramp A to Manor Road, X12/X42 express buses from Manhattan to Manor Road, S93 bus from Bay Ridge to Manor Road" phone="718 981 0887" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Specializes in an extraordinarily thin pizza that is one of the best slices in the city. Uniquely thin without too much cheese, Joe and Pat's slices are some of the lightest in the city. Try the eggplant fries.</eat>

*<eat name="Joe And Pat's" alt="" address="1758 Victory Boulevard" directions="S61/S91 S62/S92 S66 from Bus Ramp A to Manor Road, X12/X42 express buses from Manhattan to Manor Road, S93 bus from Bay Ridge to Manor Road" phone="718 981 0887" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Specializes in an extraordinarily thin pizza that is one of the best slices in the city. Uniquely thin without too much cheese, Joe and Pat's slices are some of the lightest in the city. Try the eggplant fries.</eat>

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* '''Lakruwana''', 226 Bay Street. One of the more elegant eateries. Its fine decor and delicious meals belie the outrageously inexpensive prices. Sundays offer a lunch and dinner buffet.

* '''Lakruwana''', 226 Bay Street. One of the more elegant eateries. Its fine decor and delicious meals belie the outrageously inexpensive prices. Sundays offer a lunch and dinner buffet.

* '''New Asha Restaurant''', next door to Lakruwana at 322 Victory Blvd. Offers many of the same items at competitive prices. Has been named #1 by the Village Voice Cheap Eats in the past. Featured on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations. Try a mutton roll! There are several Sri Lankan groceries that dot the street on the 15-20 minute walk from the ferry.

* '''New Asha Restaurant''', next door to Lakruwana at 322 Victory Blvd. Offers many of the same items at competitive prices. Has been named #1 by the Village Voice Cheap Eats in the past. Featured on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations. Try a mutton roll! There are several Sri Lankan groceries that dot the street on the 15-20 minute walk from the ferry.

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* '''Denino's Pizza Tavern''', 524 Port Richmond Ave., +1 718 442-9401. Arguably the best pizza on Staten Island. It is reasonably priced and has good dishes besides pizza. After a meal here it is tradition during the spring/summer months to walk across the street to Ralph's Ices and get one. Not doing so will not only offend the locals but will also leave just a small part of your stomach unsatisfied. Take the S44/S94 from Bus Ramp D at St George

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* '''Sushi Excellent''', 366 New Dorp Ln. Trendy Japanese Restaurant with great service and food. Is somewhat expensive relative to other sushi places on the island but is well worth it. There is semi-private seating available on the second floor with a reservation with both traditional Japanese and regular tables. S76/S86 to Hylan Boulevard (Bus Ramp B) or S78 to New Dorp Lane (Bus Ramp A) or S79 to New Dorp Lane (from Brooklyn)

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* '''Denino's Pizza Tavern''', 524 Port Richmond Ave., Tel # 718-442-9401. Arguably the best pizza on Staten Island. It is reasonably priced and has good dishes besides pizza. After a meal here it is tradition during the spring/summer months to walk across the street to Ralph's Ices and get one. Not doing so will not only offend the locals but will also leave just a small part of your stomach unsatisfied. Take the S44/S94 from Bus Ramp D at St George

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−

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* '''Sushi Excellent''', 366 New Dorp Ln. Trendy Japanese Restaurant with great service and food. Is somewhat expensive relative to other sushi places on the island but is well worth it. There is semi-private seating available on the second floor with a reservation with both traditional Japanese and regular tables.

Staten Island can be divided into two parts: North Shore and South Shore. The South Shore is primarily suburban residential neighborhoods with small commercial establishments usually within five minutes' driving distance. The North Shore has more apartment buildings and public housing, called "Projects." There is very little crime on the South Shore. Some parts of the North Shore, however, have some crime, and while these areas are generally safe during the day, you should avoid mistakenly walking into or around seedy neighborhoods by yourself at night.

+

Statistically, Staten Island is the safest of the 5 boroughs. However, it does have some high-crime sections, mostly along the coastal areas of the North Shore. Here is an unofficial guide to Staten Island neighborhoods: http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=214504384267441423605.0004b8bdd58f76eb00186

==Contact==

==Contact==

Revision as of 02:41, 17 June 2013

Staten Island is the most suburban of the five boroughs of New York City. Although still predominantly residential in nature, the borough has changed significantly since the opening of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in 1964. It is the closest borough to New Jersey's Newark International Airport. You may want to consider staying in a hotel on Staten Island due to its proximity to Newark Airport, lower taxi fares and shorter travel times as opposed to Manhattan (the taxi fare is $45 to any point in Staten Island plus up to $10 in tolls, but it is less delay-prone).

Contents

Districts

Although Staten Island is statistically the least diverse borough, the North Shore of Staten Island has some diverse sections. In addition to the ones mentioned below, Port Richmond is a diverse neighborhood, with many Spanish restaurants, and a quite a few in nearby Mariners' Harbor.

Other neighborhoods of note are:

West New Brighton the neighborhood in which the Staten Island Zoo is located.

Livingston - to the east of West New Brighton and to the west of New Brighton, it is the location of the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, which includes the Staten Island Children's Museum.

Tottenville at the southern tip of the island is the location of the Conference House.

New Springville the location of the Staten Island Mall.

Get in

By ferry

Staten Island can be reached by passenger ferry from Manhattan. The ferry passes by Liberty Island and offers stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and New York Harbor. The ferry is free and operates 24 hours a day out of Battery Park in Manhattan and St. George Terminal in Staten Island. The ride to either terminal takes 25 minutes and runs about twice hourly (four times during rush hours and every hour on weekends and late nights after 11pm). [2]

Buses connect at the St. George Ferry Terminal going to destinations all over Staten Island. These can be grouped according to their service area:

Routes on Staten Island that do not depart from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal are the S53, S54, S55, S56, S57, S59, S79, S89, and S93. These routes follow the same general rule regarding their service area.

These last 3 bridges have a $12.00 cash toll or $9.50 EZ Pass toll payable only when entering Staten Island, not leaving it. The carpool toll is $3.50 with 3 or more people in a car, payable only with E-Z Pass registered with the Carpool Plan.

By bus

Express bus

A moderately priced option is to take an express bus from Manhattan to Staten Island. The express buses are especially handy when you are traveling to places on the South Shore, which is the furthest section of Staten Island from the ferry, and has fewer local routes running than the more densely populated North Shore. The $6 fare<ref>http://www.mta.info/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm</ref> is payable with MetroCard (pay-per-ride only), Express Bus Plus MetroCards or coin change. Dollar bills, pennies, and half-dollar coins are not accepted.

The X1 and X10 routes run along Broadway in Manhattan (starting at around Central Park South/Seventh Avenue and East 57th Street/Third Avenue, respectively), with the X1 running along Hylan Boulevard and Richmond Avenue to Eltingville and the X10 running along the service roads of the Staten Island Expressway (North and South Gannon Avenues) to Port Richmond. Both routes run daily, the X1 runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the X10 leaves Castleton Avenue at Jewett Avenue from 5:25AM to 10:00PM weekdays, 5:30AM to 9:00PM Saturdays, and 6:30AM to 9:00 PM Sundays. [3]

X17 service also runs from parts of the South Shore weekdays from 4:05AM to 3:45PM, and weekends from 5:00AM to 7:00PM. It leaves Manhattan from 10:25AM to 11:30PM weekdays, and from 7:00AM to 8:30PM weekends.

Other express routes service to other parts of the island also run during the rush hours in the peak flow direction (to Manhattan in the morning, to Staten Island in the afternoon).

The wait times for an express bus is about 4-10 minutes during peak hours and weekday evenings, 15-25 minutes other times, and every hour during the overnight hours. The Staten Island bus map <ref>http://mta.info/nyct/maps/bussi.pdf</ref><ref>http://mta.info/nyct/maps/bussi2.pdf</ref> is informative.

Local bus

There is also the option of taking the S53/S93/S79 buses from the 4th Avenue & 86th Street subway station in Brooklyn. These bus routes cross the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge into Staten Island. Since these are considered local bus routes, you can pay for the ride by depositing $2.25 in coins in the farebox or swiping your MetroCard.

The S53 serves the North Shore and goes through Port Richmond and West New Brighton
The S79 Select Bus Service, a bus rapid transit route, serves the South/East Shores and goes on Hylan Boulevard and Richmond Avenue to get to the Staten Island Mall.
The S93 runs rush hours only and goes to the College of Staten Island, serving the neighborhoods near the Staten Island Expressway and Victory Boulevard.

From Bayonne, you can take the S89 Limited bus during rush hours from the 34th Street Hudson-Bergen Light Rail station. This bus runs down Richmond Avenue and serves sections of the North Shore, Mid-Island, and South Shore.

Get around

By rail

The Staten Island Railway[4] is a hybrid of a railroad and a subway line. Fares are the same as a subway ride (US$2.25), and it runs 24 hours, at intervals from 15 minutes during weekdays to hourly overnight, synchronized to the ferry schedule. Fares are collected only at St. George Ferry Terminal and Tompkinsville (You can walk from Stapleton to the ferry, though the distance is about a mile. It is not recommended to do this late at night because the ferry runs every hour and the area is somewhat unsafe). During rush hours, express service is provided and the locals terminate at Great Kills.

By bus

Bus routes [5] cover the island pretty thoroughly. There are two types of buses:

The local buses run routes all over Staten Island and are distinguished by the S before the route number (ex. S55, S78). They have uncomfortable plastic seats and cost $2.25. During rush hours, some buses run Limited and stop at major cross streets and transfer points. For example, the S62 starts at Jewett Avenue, making all stops east, while the S92 makes all stops west of Jewett Avenue that the S62 normally makes, while stopping only at major streets like Clove Road east of Jewett Avenue. The numbers of the local and limited routes usually correspond (S62/S92, S46/S96)

The express buses are distinguished with an 'X' in the coded display on the front of the bus (ex. X1, X10, X17, etc). These buses run from Staten Island to Manhattan, have more comfortable cloth seats, and cost $6.

Most routes on the island meet up at the St. George Ferry Terminal. Other major transfer points include Port Richmond, with some buses terminating at Richmond Terrace at Port Richmond Avenue; the Staten Island Mall; and the Eltingville Transit Center on the South Shore, the last with MetroCard vending machines and express service to Manhattan.

Fares can be paid in quarters or dollar coins (if you can find them). You can also use a MetroCard (good for all public transportation in NYC) purchasable at some delis or at the machines located at the ferry terminal. Buses run close to schedule, but service on Staten Island is sparse outside of rush hours, and even during peak hours, many routes run every 10-15 minutes. Because of this, it helps to be prepared: either pick up a schedule for routes that you'll plan to take, check the Guide-A-Ride boxes at bus stops for exact times or use the MTA's BusTime system to track buses. Although BusTime only works on routes dispatched from Staten Island at the moment, you can track express bus service in Manhattan.

See

Snug Harbor Cultural Center, [7] by taking the S40 or S44 buses from the ferry (bus ramp D). This is the largest collection of Greek revival, temple style buildings in America. A true architectural gem featuring the Staten Island Botanic Garden, which features an authentic Chinese Scholar's garden (created by actual Chinese scholars!). There is also an art museum, the John A. Noble Collection, on the grounds. One of the most beautiful places in New York, Staten Island's Versaille, and a place even the most jaded New Yorker will marvel at.

Portions of Gateway National Recreation Area are on Staten Island. You can take the S78 or S79 along Hylan Boulevard for the section in Great Kills or the S76/S86 for the section in New Dorp.

Greenbelt Nature Center, [8] is an educational center in the Staten Island Greenbelt Nature Area and Parks system by taking the S57 from Port Richmond. The S74/S84 and the S61/S91 stop a few blocks away. The S74/S84 leave from Ramp B. The S61/S91 leave from Ramp A

South Beach & Boardwalk, [9] by taking the S51/81 bus from the ferry (bus ramp B).

Staten Island's 9/11 Memorial is a short walk from the ferry terminal.

Willowbrook Park, Eton Place at Richmond Avenue or Victory Boulevard at Morani Street (S62/S92 to Morani Street, S44/S94 to Eton Place). A large park with a carousel.

Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, a small museum with ancient art pieces and frequent visits by Tibetan monks and artists. Set into a hillside in the Lighthouse Hill neighborhood which is a gorgeous hilly suburban enclave worth a stroll around. Take the S78 from the ferry.

Do

Visit the Staten Island Museum. It is a short walk from the ferry terminal. Admission is $2.

Staten Island Zoo, 614 Broadway, [11]. Located in West New Brighton, it's a fun destination for younger children as well as animal enthusiastsby taking the S53 bus from Brooklyn, or the S48/98 buses from the ferry (bus ramp C).

The Staten Island Greenbelt[12] is one of the largest parks in the city, with miles of hiking trails and excellent views from the highest hills on the island. Take the S61/S91 from Ramp A of the St George Ferry Terminal or the S74/S84 from Ramp B of the St George Ferry Terminal. Transfer from the S74/S84 to the S54 or S57 at Rockland Avenue or walk.

Buy

Staten Island Mall[13], located in the center of the island. It has three anchor stores: Macy's, JCPenney, and Sears. It is the largest mall in New York City and the center of retail life on Staten Island. There is a large food court with fast food restaurants such as KFC, Taco Bell Express, and Nathans. There are also various shopping centers spread through the vicinity. Take either the S44/S94 from bus Ramp D of the ferry, or the S61/S91 from bus ramp A (the quicker option).

Atrium Stadium Theaters, 680 Arthur Kill Road, Staten Island , NY, ☎(718) 984-7600. The only movie theater on the south shore , so if ever in the Tottenville section of the island that would be the movie theater to go to. Take the S74/S84 to Richmond Avenue from bus ramp B of the ferry terminal.

UA Hyland Plaza 5, 107 Mill Road, Staten Island, NY (S78 from Bus Ramp A or S79 from Brooklyn), ☎(800) 326-3264 x635. One of two Movie theaters on the North Shore , It is surrounded by several restraunts and conveniently in a shopping plaza on Hylan Blvd. If you are ever in South Beach this would be the closest movie Theater.

Ralphs Italian Ices, 501 Port Richmond Avenue (S44/S94 from bus ramp D). Summer time favorite for most Staten Islanders , Long lines and long hours along with the variety of tasty flavors is what makes this such an attraction and a place to buy delicious ices.

United Artists Theater, 2474 Forest Avenue (S40/S90 buses from ramp D of the terminal or X30 express bus from Manhattan). The other movie theater on the North Shore.

Eat

While the vast majority of Staten Island eateries are Italian, there are some gems of ethnic cuisine in the St. George and Tompkinsville neighborhoods, the area around the ferry terminal and the Staten Island Yankees stadium. Home to a large Sri Lankan community, St. George has many grocery stores and restaurants. Mostly within a mile of each other on Victory Blvd. (and in walking distance from the ferry terminal), the authentic and inexpensive restaurants serve up flavorful South Asian cuisine well worth the trip.

Beso, 11 Schuyler Street (Leave the ferry terminal, cross the street, make a right, left on Schuyler). New Spanish restaurant with live music occasionally. Tapas and sangria bring some much needed class to the neighborhood. A short walk from the ferry and a great place to eat.

Bay House Bistro, 574 Bay Street (Staten Island Railway to Stapleton, S51 or S76 bus to Prospect Street (bus ramp B)). One of the best Asian take outs going. Focus on the appetizers, heavily influenced by Southeast Asian cuisine, particularly Malaysian. Try the roti canai or the curry veggie pies.

Taqueria Gallo Azteca, 75 Victory Boulevard, ☎718 273 6404. The cemitas are to die for, a sandwich with your choice of meat, with avocado, chipotle peppers, quesillo, and beans. One of the best sandwiches you'll ever have.

Goodfella's, 1817 Victory Boulevard (S61/S91 S62/S92 S66 from Bus Ramp A to Manor Road, X12/X42 express buses from Manhattan to Manor Road, S93 bus from Bay Ridge to Manor Road). Famous for their vodka pizza, the recipient of several awards.

Joe And Pat's, 1758 Victory Boulevard (S61/S91 S62/S92 S66 from Bus Ramp A to Manor Road, X12/X42 express buses from Manhattan to Manor Road, S93 bus from Bay Ridge to Manor Road), ☎718 981 0887. Specializes in an extraordinarily thin pizza that is one of the best slices in the city. Uniquely thin without too much cheese, Joe and Pat's slices are some of the lightest in the city. Try the eggplant fries.

Lakruwana, 226 Bay Street. One of the more elegant eateries. Its fine decor and delicious meals belie the outrageously inexpensive prices. Sundays offer a lunch and dinner buffet.

New Asha Restaurant, next door to Lakruwana at 322 Victory Blvd. Offers many of the same items at competitive prices. Has been named #1 by the Village Voice Cheap Eats in the past. Featured on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations. Try a mutton roll! There are several Sri Lankan groceries that dot the street on the 15-20 minute walk from the ferry.

Denino's Pizza Tavern, 524 Port Richmond Ave., +1 718 442-9401. Arguably the best pizza on Staten Island. It is reasonably priced and has good dishes besides pizza. After a meal here it is tradition during the spring/summer months to walk across the street to Ralph's Ices and get one. Not doing so will not only offend the locals but will also leave just a small part of your stomach unsatisfied. Take the S44/S94 from Bus Ramp D at St George

Sushi Excellent, 366 New Dorp Ln. Trendy Japanese Restaurant with great service and food. Is somewhat expensive relative to other sushi places on the island but is well worth it. There is semi-private seating available on the second floor with a reservation with both traditional Japanese and regular tables. S76/S86 to Hylan Boulevard (Bus Ramp B) or S78 to New Dorp Lane (Bus Ramp A) or S79 to New Dorp Lane (from Brooklyn)

Sushi Excellent, 366 New Dorp Ln (S76/S86 to Hylan Boulevard (Bus Ramp C) or S78 to New Dorp Lane (Bus Ramp D) or S79 to New Dorp Lane (from Brooklyn)). Trendy Japanese Restaurant with great service and food. Is somewhat expensive relative to other sushi places on the island but is well worth it. There is semi-private seating available on the second floor with a reservation with both traditional Japanese and regular tables.

Drink

Nurnberger Bierhaus, 817 Castleton Avenue (S46 to Davis Avenue (Bus Ramp B)). Offers a wide variety of imported German beers and well-prepared, authentic German food. There is an outside beer garden that offers a limited menu, open in seasonable weather. Beers are served in liter steins and the food is as good as any you will find in Germany.

There is beer on the Staten Island Ferry. It is cheap (by NYC standards). A 16 ounce can of Bud/Miller will cost $3.50

Sleep

Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, 1100 South Avenue, [14]. Easily accessed by the West Shore Expressway. It is newly constructed and is much like any other Hilton in the USA. Take the S46/S96 from bus ramp C of the ferry terminal or shuttle bus. Get off at Lois Lane. It is located south of Exit 6 on the Staten Island Expressway (coming from New Jersey, get off at Exit 4 (Forest Avenue) and make a right at South Avenue).

Staten Island Hotel, 1415 Richmond Ave., [15]. Centrally located right off Exit 7 of the Staten Island Expressway (I-278). You can take the S44/S94 from bus ramp D of the St. George Ferry Terminal. Get off at Lamberts Lane. From Manhattan, you can take the X17 or X10 express buses to Lamberts Lane.

During rush hours, you have the option of taking the S89 from Bayonne to reach the Staten Island Hotel. Get off at Lamberts Lane.

Holiday Inn Express, 300 Wild Avenue (Take the Staten Island Expressway to the West Shore Expressway (Exit 5). Get off at Victory Blvd (Exit 7)), ☎(718) 276-8689‎. checkin: 4:00 PM; checkout: 11:00 AM. Located in a quiet part of Staten Island, this hotel also close to Newark Airport. To get to/from Manhattan, take the S62/S92 bus on Victory Blvd to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. During rush hours (AM to Manhattan, PM from Manhattan), you can take the X11 or X19 express buses to get to/from Manhattan.

Contact

Get out

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!